Police fatally shoot man in notorious Seattle homeless camp

Officers opened fire after coming upon a knife fight in the 'Jungle'

Levi Pulkkinen
| on October 11, 2016

Photo: GENNA MARTIN, SEATTLEPI.COM

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Police are gathered at the scene of an officer-involved shooting on Oct. 11, 2016, at Airport Way South and South Bayview Street, near the "Jungle" homeless encampment that was being cleared out to relocate itsPolice are gathered at the scene of an officer-involved shooting on Oct. 11, 2016, at Airport Way South and South Bayview Street, near the "Jungle" homeless encampment that was being cleared out to relocate its residents. Two people were reported with injuries, one critical, one minor.

Photo: GENNA MARTIN, SEATTLEPI.COM

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An ambulance leaves the scene of an officer-involved shooting on Oct. 11, 2016, at Airport Way South and South Bayview Street, near the "Jungle" homeless encampment that was being cleared out to relocate itsAn ambulance leaves the scene of an officer-involved shooting on Oct. 11, 2016, at Airport Way South and South Bayview Street, near the "Jungle" homeless encampment that was being cleared out to relocate its residents.

Photo: GENNA MARTIN, SEATTLEPI.COM

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Police investigate the scene of an officer-involved shooting on Oct. 11, 2016, at Airport Way South and South Bayview Street, near the "Jungle" homeless encampment that was being cleared out to relocate itsPolice investigate the scene of an officer-involved shooting on Oct. 11, 2016, at Airport Way South and South Bayview Street, near the "Jungle" homeless encampment that was being cleared out to relocate its residents.

Photo: GENNA MARTIN, SEATTLEPI.COM

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Jungle resident Michelle Crisafi helps a friend move his belongings out of the area as police have the scene of an officer-involved shooting locked down on Oct. 11, 2016, at Airport Way South and South BayviewJungle resident Michelle Crisafi helps a friend move his belongings out of the area as police have the scene of an officer-involved shooting locked down on Oct. 11, 2016, at Airport Way South and South Bayview Street, near the "Jungle" homeless encampment that was being cleared out to relocate its residents. "Unfortunately, things like this aren't scary to me anymore, it's more sad" said Crisafi.

Photo: GENNA MARTIN, SEATTLEPI.COM

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Police investigate the scene of an officer-involved shooting on Oct. 11, 2016, at Airport Way South and South Bayview Street, near the "Jungle" homeless encampment that was being cleared out to relocate itsPolice investigate the scene of an officer-involved shooting on Oct. 11, 2016, at Airport Way South and South Bayview Street, near the "Jungle" homeless encampment that was being cleared out to relocate its residents.

Photo: GENNA MARTIN, SEATTLEPI.COM

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Officer Mark Gallegos carries out a sword that was found in the "Jungle" homeless encampment as WSDOT and Union Gospel Mission employees work to clear the remaining residents out of the homeless encampment,Officer Mark Gallegos carries out a sword that was found in the "Jungle" homeless encampment as WSDOT and Union Gospel Mission employees work to clear the remaining residents out of the homeless encampment, Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2016.

WSDOT and Union Gospel Mission employees work to clear the remaining residents out of the "Jungle" homeless encampment, Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2016.

Photo: GENNA MARTIN, SEATTLEPI.COM

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A sign reads "Please, do not take! Not trash" on a pile of bags and suitcases as Union Gospel Mission workers help the remaining residents clear their belongings out of the "Jungle" homeless encampment,A sign reads "Please, do not take! Not trash" on a pile of bags and suitcases as Union Gospel Mission workers help the remaining residents clear their belongings out of the "Jungle" homeless encampment, Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2016.

Police are investigating a reported officer-involved shooting Tuesday afternoon at Airport Way South and South Bayview Street, near the "Jungle" homeless encampment that was being cleared out to relocate its

Police are investigating a reported officer-involved shooting Tuesday afternoon at Airport Way South and South Bayview Street, near the "Jungle" homeless encampment that was being cleared out to relocate its residents.

A man shot by Seattle police officers Tuesday at a notorious homeless camp known as "The Jungle" has died.

The man was critically injured during the shooting, which saw an officer discharge her weapon while attempting to break up a fight in the Beacon Hill greenbelt. Police say the man was armed with a knife when he was shot.

Fire units and medics were called about 12:45 p.m. to Airport Way South and South Bayview Street. One man suffered a gunshot wound that proved fatal, while another suffered a minor stab wound to his hand.

Speaking at 2 p.m., Police Chief Kathleen O'Toole said officers opened fire after interrupting a knife fight in the camp, which was being cleared out by city and state officials. O'Toole said the fight and subsequent shooting were not related to the controversial clean-up effort.

The officers were in a wooded area east of Airport Way South and South Stacy Street when they became aware of two men involved in a fight. One of the men was armed with a knife.

According to a police statement, officers attempted to separate the two men.

"During the encounter, one of the officers discharged her weapon, striking the man with the knife," a police spokesperson said in a statement.

The Jungle encampment beneath Interstate 5 has drawn increased attention from city officials in the past year following a deadly shooting there that saw two people killed. Seattle leaders have been weighing a proposal that would allow camping in much of the city's public spaces as Mayor Ed Murray moved forward with plans to push people out of the Jungle.

Neither of the two officers involved in the shooting were injured.

As is usual in such situations, the officer who fired her weapon has been placed on administrative leave while the post-shooting investigation is ongoing.